Fleas can be a particularly pesky and difficult pest to eliminate; they can jump around 100 times their own height, females lay 20,000 eggs in just a few months, and eggs take between 3 and 6 weeks to hatch. All these factors make fleas versatile and elusive and as a result many pet owners turn to commercial flea products to kill the pets and prevent future outbreaks. In some cases, you may have no choice but to seek stronger flea treatments but there are also a range of natural preventative measures that you can try to control the flea population in your home and pets.

One simple and natural flea prevention is garlic. By adding garlic to your pet’s meals you may find that you have effectively prevented fleas. In addition, there are many meal additives that can deter fleas; sulfur prevents fleas and can be added to your pet’s diet weekly, and black walnut hulls are available in capsule form at your local pet store and they repel fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. Typically, these kinds of remedies require 4 to 6 weeks to be completely effective.

Unfortunately, when it comes to fleas, prevention may not be enough. Especially if your dog or cat is already infested with fleas, you’ll need to take some time to get rid of the infestation. So it’s bath time. There is a wide selection of herbal shampoos available at the pet store that help to kill and remove fleas. Combinations of pine cedar, bergamot, rosemary, eucalyptus, citronella, juniper, lavender, or geranium (just to name a few) are especially effective when you’re dealing with fleas.

In addition, you need to remove the fleas from your home. One natural treatment involves mixing 1.5 pounds of diatomaceous earth, 1.5 pounds of organic borax, and 1 cup of salt. You can purchase the diatomaceous earth and organic borax at a garden supply store. Sprinkle this mixture throughout your house and let it sit for a few days. Finally, vacuum up the mixture and you should be flea free!

May 16, 2011

What can jump 150 times their body length, is 1.5 to 3.3 mm long, sucks blood to live, has been around since prehistoric times, and is a wingless insects with tube-like mouth-parts? This horrendous creature sounds like a description out of a horror movie but its real and could be living in your house. Ctenocephalides canis, better known as fleas could be hosting off your pet without you even knowing. Fleas live on a life cycle of four stages. Stage one is when an adult flea infests your dog and begins to lay eggs. Stage two is within two and five days as the eggs develop into adult fleas. Stage three is larvae or caterpillar, where the egg hatches into larvae. The last stage is flea pupae or cocoon, which means now there is a fully grown flea and now the cycle begins again.

The effects on your dog make their life very unpleasant. The common effects are itching and scratching. However some dogs feel unbearable itching that cause the dog’s skin to thicken and their hair to fall out. This in turn makes the raw skin vulnerable to bacterial infections.

You need to wage a full out war if you’re going to take down this resilient creature. This ongoing battle will take place on two fronts; the dogs environment and on his skin. The key to eliminating fleas is to totally remove the life cycle of the fleas which is tricky because they are all on different parts of the cycle. Also, the reproduction of fleas is ridiculously fast while the treatments can be tedious. One hands-on way of dealing with fleas is hang a light over some flypaper, the heat will attract the fleas which will then get caught on the flypaper. In addition, treating your carpets with a borate-based powder and spraying the yard with outdoor flea control products will help lower the flea count in the dog’s environment. Washing your dog thoroughly with a flea repellent will be the best at getting rid of fleas on your best friend. Providing a healthy meal is also important because this will strengthen the dog’s immune system.

Of course pet medication for fleas is the best way of defeating fleas. It’s fast and easy. There are several dog flea medications for all sizes and needs in the pharmaceutical industry. For example Advantix Red, Advantix Blue, Revolution Mauve, and Frontline flea control. The task of killing fleas is daunting but it is necessary and your furry little friend will love you for it.

Disclaimer: CritterCures is an educational resource, and all information herein is strictly for educational purposes. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure diseases, nor is it meant to replace the (prescribed) treatment or recommendations of your veterinarian or healthcare provider. Always inform your veterinarian or healthcare provider of any products that your pet are taking, including herbal remedies and supplements.